Local News

A Columbus service station owner says gasoline sales have improved since he put up a sign saying, “no Iraqi fuel sold here.” Industry experts question its accuracy, saying there’s no way to tell if fuel form the Middle East reaches his gas station because the fuel mingles together in pipelines. A U-S state department spokeswoman disputes the suggestion that buying Iraqi fuel is a bad thing, since the profits no longer go to Saddam Hussein and now will be used to rebuild the country. Jason Gang’...

Congress will resume hearings today into last month’s massive blackout that darkened homes form Ohio to New York. The chairman of the federal energy regulatory commission along with several existing transmission monitoring groups want a system of mandatory reliability rules, the rules would be enforced by the groups. They say such a system would improve reliability because they have a broader perspective on electrical operations. Not everyone thinks this is a great idea. Opponents say the...

The Zanesville Fire Department is investigating a Tuesday night blaze. The fire started just before 6:30 at 1509 Moxahala Ave. The structure was fully involved when fire crews arrived. It took about 10 minutes for the department to get the blaze under control. According to Fire Chief, Dave Lacy, the department is investigating reports of some teens who were in the area right before the fire started.

A South Zanesville father continues the search for his twins, hoping to involve the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Joe Cox called the FBI last week, looking to get their assistance in this case. They let him know the Muskingum County Sheriff’s department would have to initiate the process. This afternoon, Lt. Steve Welker made the call, setting the wheels in motion for possible assistance from the FBI. Until then, Cox keeps searching on his own. He put over 1700 miles on his van this...

A local daycare facility feels a lot cooler, thanks to a grant from the city of Zanesville. The Zanesville Daycare Nursery recently benefited from a $50,000 Community Development Block Grant. They applied for the money over two years ago and now they are reaping the benefits of electrical upgrades and air conditioning. The daycare’s current location was built in 1937 and is all brick, creating a fairly hot atmosphere in the summer. An extra benefit of the air conditioning is the cooking....

Officials say Ohio State University football fans apparently are getting the message that police won’t tolerate drinking at tailgating parties in parking lots prior to home games. Last Saturday, police cited and warned fewer than half as many tailgaters for drinking violations as they had the week before. Tailgating is one activity city and campus police have zeroed in on in efforts to stem the fire setting, trashing of cars and other vandalism that has followed games the past several years....

Ohio house speaker Larry Householder is featured in a taxpayer-funded public service spot running on radio and cable television in various parts of the state-soliciting volunteers for food banks. Critics suggest Householder, of Glenford in Perry County, is seeking name recognition for a run for statewide office in three years. But Householder says he has long been interested in helping food banks. Lisa Hamler-Podolski of the Ohio Association of Second Harvest food banks agreed that Householder...

A former pharmacist with the Big Bear Store on Maple Ave. pleaded guilty Monday to stealing drugs. 41-year-old John Campbell of Nashport was facing seven counts of theft of dangerous drugs, including Norco and Soma. According to Muskingum County prosecutor, Mike Haddox, Campbell told investigators that he stole the drugs to control pain in his knee, which stemmed from surgery seven years ago. Campbell has not been sentenced.

It’s a possibly five years behind bars for a Dresden man charged with one count of gross sexual imposition. 34-year-old Jeffrey Mahon pleaded guilty to the charge involving a 12-year-old girl. According to the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office, Mahon was arrested after the girl said he inappropriately touched her. The victim was at Mahon’s house because she was staying the night with one of his children.

In Zanesville City Council news, once again council discussed the renaming of State Street and State Street Bridge to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Last meeting, council announced that the East Central-Southeastern Ohio Juneteenth Committee, which proposed the renaming several months ago, was reforming. This reforming places council in a difficult position. According to council president Joanne Winland, the issue is that council has to be sure they are endorsing a valid committee....